Bag filling and weighing machine



April 28, 1936. A. Du Bols lBAG FILLING AND WEIGHING MACHINE Filed July l5, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwbais April 2 8, 1936. A. nu Bols 2,038,550

BAG FILLING AND wmGHING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1932 5 sheetssheet 2 :Dubois N'veNT'aR 5y; www df@ April 28, 1936. A, nu Bols 2,038,650

BAG FILLING AND WEIGHING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1932 svshetewshee'c s Ap 28, 1936. A. Du Bolsy l BAG FILLING AND WEIGHINGMACHINE Filed July 15, 1932 5 Sheets-Shea?I 4 April2s,193e. j kA: DU Bols v 2,038,650

BAG FILLING AND WEIGHING MACHINE Patented Apr. 1936' `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application July 15, 1932, Serial No. 622,790 In Luxembourg August 6, 1931 12 Claims.

1o that there is often a considerable difference in the weight of the filled sacks, due to the lack of an effective adjustment of the feeding or the delivery of the machine; the stream slows up and becomes irregular, and especially towards the end l5 of the operation, when the automatic weighing takes place. On the other hand, power is consumed when the machine is running without filling a bag, thus resulting in a prejudicial heating of the material within the wheel casing;

furthermore, the output is insufficient as compared with the power employed.

'I'he chief object of my invention is to eliminate the aforesaid drawbacks, i. e. to afford a machine of large output which will produce a continuous and compact stream during the whole filling time thus obtaining .sacks which are well compressed and of exact weight (the output being maintained at a maximum). Another object of myinvention is to allow the machine to be run empty, even for a few seconds, by stopping the feed and assuring an instant and automatic emptying, each time that the delivery tube is closed up, whereby the power requiredis reduced to a minimum, and the material is prevented from damage due v to neat.

- A further object of my invention is to improve 'the means used for automatically stopping the delivery each time that a bag has been filled with a desired weight of material, and more specifically 40 to reduce as much as possible the time required for the automatic closing of the tube in response to the swinging of the scale beam.

My invention will now be described by referring tothe annexed drawings showing by way of example an embodiment of the same and in which: Fig. 1 is a general view of a double automatic sacking and weighing machine provided with the `improvements according to the invention, certain parts of the machine being shown in section. Figs. and 3 are, respectively, an end view and a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, with certain parts iny section. Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views showing the controlling devices, illustrated, respectively, in positions corresponding to the st ppping. and the running of the machine. Figs. 6 and '7 are views of the sack-carrier in positions corresponding to those shown in Figs. fi and 5.

In the example herein represented, the automatic sacking and weighing apparatus essentially 5 comprises a sack filling device, an automatic device for stopping the feed and emptying the filling device, a mechanism for the automatic removal of the filled sacks and a-mechanism for supplying the machine with the empty sacks, these 10 two mechanisms being constructed for use with paper sacks 'which have a certainrigidity. Each of the aforesaid devices will be first described separately and it will thereafter be explained how they co-act together. 15

The sack filling device in conformity to the invention is of the type comprising a paddle wheel I-adapted for high-speed rotation in a casing provided with a discharge opening 2 extended by a tube 3. According to the invention, 20 a second paddle wheel 4 is located adjacent the wheel I and in the rearof the latter with reference to the discharge opening 2. This wheel 4 is supported to rotate about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel I and these two 25 wheels I and 4 are so disposed that the plane containing the axis of the tube 3 and perpendicular to their axis of rotation is the middle transverse plane of both said wheels I and 4. The wheel 4 is driven at a slower speed than the wheel 30 I, and preferably in'the opposite direction, but it has a greater width and preferably a larger diameter. The feeding conduit 5 for the material to be sacked opens wholly or partially at the periphery of the wheel 4 in order that this ma- 35 terlal enters in the first place either wholly or partially between the paddles of the wheel 4. On the other hand, the casing containing the wheel I has a much greater radius than the wheel itself in and adjacent to the part at which it 40 merges in the discharge opening 2, thus forming at the periphery of this high-speed wheel a channel- 6 which becomes narrower towards the said opening. The two chambers containing the respective wheels I and 4 communicate together, in 45 such manner that the wheel 4 will throw the material into the chamber of the wheel I.

The operation of the said apparatus is as follows:

The material supplied by the conduit 5 proceeds -50 between the paddles of the wheel 4, which throws it into the chamber of the high-speed wheel. The

`material which does not enter the wheel 4 is however drawn into the chamber lof the wheel I by the stream of material issuing from the wheel 5| 4. A part of this stream proceeds between the paddles of the wheel I, whilst the remainder is circulated directly into the channel 6.

The first result thus obtained is the effective filling of the wheel I due to the kinetic energy already imparted to the material by the wheel 4. Such lling is more effective than the usual filling by the sole action of gravity. By reason of this effective filling, and of the flow of material set up in the channel 6 by the wheel 4, an amount of material will be delivered to the tube which exceeds the amount which can be drawn along by the wheel I beyond the discharge opening 2, since at this part the radius of the chamber of the wheel I is less than the radius at the part 5. Hence the paddles of the wheel I will have a pushing action on the material, and the latter will be effectively driven out through the discharge opening 2. n the other hand, the material situated between the paddles of the wheel I is driven to the periphery before it proceeds in front of the tube, due to the presence of the channel I; it is however not driven against the walls of the chamber, but into the stream of material circulated at slow speed by the wheel 4 and proceeding in the said channel. The speed of this stream is thus increased by the action of the wheel I, both before the stream. enters the opening 2, and when it flows through the latter. f

In fact this affords a very regular stream of compact material which always corresponds to the iiow section of the tube.

Adjacent the discharge opening 2 is provided as usual the automatically controlled valve I4, to cut of! the flow of material when the sack has the proper weight. This valve is of the plug cock type, and is operated by a quick actuating device including a counterweight Ila operatively connected to the plug I4 to rotate the latter when falling and held in its upper position by a removable stop I4b (Figs. 2, 4 and 5) responsive to the swinging motion of the scale-beam 2| of the weighing mechanism.

As the said paddle wheels continue to rotate when the valve I4 is closed, and since certain substances may be damaged by the resulting friction, it is preferable to provide a valve I5 in the feeding conduit 8, and an emptying pipe I6 in which a valve I1 is mounted, in order to provide for the emptying of the chambers of the wheels I and 4. Such valves preferably consist of plug cocks of the same kind as the valve I4. In order to simplify the operation, it is preferable to connect these valves together in such manner that the operator may actuate all three valves by a single movement, whilst they are automatically controlled by the weighing mechanism. Various connecting means may be designed for this purpose, and the hereinafter described embodiment is to be considered solely as a preferred one given merely by way of example.-

While it is being filled, the paper sack is held in a somewhat inclined position, in order that it can slide down by its own weight when it is full, this discharge being automatically effected upon stopping of the filling operation. A convenient arrangement for this purpose is as follows:

A frame consisting of two cross-connected sideplates a and 20h is suspended from the end of the scale-beam 2I of the weighing machine. To this end the scale-beam 2l is fork-shaped at its end and each arm 2Ia', 2lb of the fork supports one of said side-plates 20a, 20h, through the medium of a knife and plate arrangement 2Ic, 2| d, (Figs. 1 and 2). Each side-plate carries an lnaosaso clined shaft 22a, 22h, substantially perpendicular to the axis of the tube 3 and upon the said shafts are pivotally mounted concave members or shells 23a23b. These two shells form a kind of basket in which the sack is placed and is thus surrounded on all sides. The two shells 21a- 22h are urged together by springs 24a-24h, whereby the sack placed between them is prevented from slipping out; however the springs are given such force that when the sack is full it will act by its own weight to separate the shells against the action of the springs.

To prevent this from taking place before the filling operation has been stopped, a movable stop 25, inserted between the two shells prevents the latter from pivoting under the weight of the sack, in order .to allow the pivoting oi' the shells the said stop is automatically disengaged when the sack is filled to the desired weight. Various means may be designed for this purpose but the preferred device is described herebelow.

The bottom of the sack may rest upon an inclined platform supported by the side-plates 2la and Zlib, but to provide for an easy sliding of the sack it is preferred to provide upon each sideplate a set of pulleys 2B carrying an endless belt 28a upon which rests the bottom of the sack. For greater safety, the apparatus is preferably provided with a fastening device which may consist, for instance, of a pawl 21 co-operating with a ratchet wheel 2l which rotates together with the said pulleys. The automatic control of the said stop 25 is so arranged that the pawl 21 will be released at the same time.

The whole device consisting of the pulleys and their supports preferably forms a unit which is slidable with reference to the slide-plates 20a and 20h, thereby enabling adjustment of the distance between the member supporting the bottom of the sack and the tube 3.

By the use of the basket, an empty paper sack can be placed in position with much greater facility. In order to still further reduce the time required for this operation, a suitable device is provided by which the sacks can be brought one by one into a substantially vertical position, exactly above the sack-carrier and within easy reach of the operator. Such a device may be constituted for instance in the following manner, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A vertical at guide 30 adapted to give passage to a sack ends somewhat above the bag carrier. At the top of said guide ends an inclined conveyer 3l which carries a set of sacks bearing also on a supporting plate 32 formed by an extended part of the wall of the said guide. The supporting plate 32 is so shaped that lt is in contact with the set of sacks only upon a small surface at its upper part, and preferably with the reinforced strip which forms the top of the sack. For this purpose, the plate 32 consists for instance of two convex parts. 32a-B2b having different radii of curvature. At its lower part, the conveyer 3| is provided with a toothed wheel.I Il which serves to separate the sacks one by one, and which co-operates with a pawl 24. A reserve set of sacks is carried by a pivotally supported basket 35 which may be turned about by a lever within reach of the operator. The basket is balanced in such manner that when empty, it will swing back intoits normal position.

The operation of the said device is as follows:

When working, there will always be a sack which is released fromV the toothed wheel and is hung solely by its upper part, which is held between the set of sacks and the plate 32a, and as the guide 30 is entirely open on the side next the operator, so that the edge of the sack will extend to the outside, the operator can seize this edge and draw it down, and thus the sack willdrop into the carrier below, after which it is placed over the tube 3. On its descent, the sack acts Jupon a plate which operates the pawl 34, thus allowing the ratchet wheel to move forward by one tooth, and the conveyer will advance to a like degree by gravity, under the weight of the set of sacks, while at the same time releasing the'lower edge of the underlying sack.

'The general control of the several devices hereinbefore set forth is afforded as aforesaid by a mechanism of which a preferred embodiment will now be described (Figs. 4 and 5).

The operator makes use of a single control member which herein consists of a balanced pivoting foot actuated member 40, this being connected, for instance by a rod 4 I with the valve I4, in such manner that by pressing down the control member 40, the said valve will be opened and its counterweight I4a raised. For thispurpose the lower end of the rod 4I is pivoted at 4Ia` to the pedal 46 and its upper end is pivoted at 4Ib to the counterweight I4a keyed on the shaft of the plug of the valve plug cock I4.l

The removable stop I4b which holds the counterweight I4a in its raised position is an arm weighted at an end and pivoted at its other end at I4c to a stationary part of the machine; said arm carries an extension or rod I 4d the lower end of which rests upon the end of the scale-beam 2 I. On the other hand, the plugs of the valves I5 and I1 are rotatably connected together by crank arms 42 and 43 and a link 44; the arm 43 is further connected by a rod 45 with a crank arm 46, coaxial with the control member 40. Between the latter and the arm 46 is further provided a one-way connection in such manner that when the control member turns in ,the direction F, it will move without affecting the arm 46. For instance, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a curved slot 40a is provided in the member 40 and movably engaged therein is a stud 40h carried by an extension of the crank arm 46. `It is preferred to eliminate the counterweight of the valve I1, and the counterweight I5a of the valve I5 thus actuates the device consisting of the elements 42, 4 3, 44, 45 and 46. On the other hand, the rod carries a tappet 41 in whose path is located an arm 46 mounted on a slidable rod 49 to which is secured the stop 25 which locks'the basket in its closed position. On the same rod 49 is mounted a tappet 50 adapted to actuate the pawl 21. On the other hand, a removable stop 5I prevents the valve I1 from turning under the action of the counterweight I5a. The said stop is automatically removed by the rotation of the cock plug I4; to thisend the stop 5I consists for instance of a two-arm lever which is pivoted at a. xed point 5Ia, and whereof one arm is located in the path of a nose Ha ilxedly connected with the rotatable plug of the plug cock valve I1 and the other is located in the path of the counterweight I4a; said lever is constantly urged back towards its stoppedposition by its own weight.

The operation of the said mechanism is as follows:

While one of the sacks is being illled, the parts have the position shown in Fig. 5, that is, the valves I4 and I5 are open, and the valve I1 is closed; the pawl 21 holds stationary the conveyor 26, and the stop 25 prevents the basket, from opening under the weight? of the sack.

eso 3 When the sack has the proper weight, the scalebeam 2i swings down, together with the rod I4d,

the stop I4b is removed, and the counterweight I4a drops, thus instantly closing the valve I4.

During this movement, the rod 4I turns the control member 46 in the dhection F but without turning the arm 46, owing to the one way connection between them. About the end of its stroke the counterweight I4a strikes the lever 5I which is thus turned and releases the devices42, 43, 44, 45, 46, which is raised by the fall of the counterweight 15a, thus closing the valve l5 and opening the emptying valve I1. In this movement, the tappet 41 makes contact with the arm 46 and pushes upward the rod 49 as well as the stop 25 which releases the shells 23a-23h. At the same time the tappet 56 turns the pawl 21 and thus releases the conveyer 28. The weight of the sack then causes the shells 23a-23h to swing apart and the sack will thus drop oil automatically. The parts are now in the position shown in Fig. 4. As soon as the sack has fallen the basket will close automatically owing to the springs 24a-24h while the scale-beam 2| rises, and the stop I 4b' moves back to its engaged position.

When the operator has pulled down an empty sack into the basket and has placed it over the tube, 3, he presses down the control member 40. thus bringing it back into the position shown in Fig. 5. In this motion the control member 4I) opens the valve I4 through the medium of the rod 4I also raising the counterweight I4a. At the same time, the arm 46, which takes part without delay in this motion of this control member 40 causes the valve I1, to be closed, opens the valve I5 and raises the counterweight I5a through the medium of the link gears 45, 43, 44, 42. Besides the tappet 41 carried by the link 45 is moved downwardly out of engagement with the rod 49, whereby allowing this rod to slide down by its own weight. This sliding motion of the rod 44 brings the stop 25 into engagement with the shells 23a, 23h, thereby locking the same in their closed position, and the stop 50 out of engagement with the pawl 21 so .that the latter is allowed' to swing back to its lowermost position, thereby locking the conveyer 28. Meanwhile, the stop 5I has returned to the stopping position, and thus when theoperator releases the control member 4.0, the plug of the valve I1 is prevented -i.'rom turning thereby locking the parts I5a, 42, 44. 43, 45, 46 in the position shown in Fig. 5.

From the above it will be observed that the operation lof the valve I4 sets the rest of the mechanism.

What I claim is:

1. A bag lling and weighing machine for powdered or granular material, `comprising a casing provided with a discharge opening, propelling means within said casing to propel out the material through said opening, weighing means adapted to support the bag to be illled, a cut-odevice vadapted to close said opening and operatively connected to said weighing means so as to be closed in response to movement oi the weighing means, an emptying pipe branched into said casing and a valve on said emptying pipe and automatic control means whereby said valve will be opened upon the bag being filled with'I the desired weight of material.

2. A bag filling and weighing machine as claimed in 'claim 1 wherein said control means includes an operative connection between the valve and the cut-ofi. device and whereby said valve will be opened only after said cut-oi! device has substantiallyclosed the discharge opening.

3. A bag illling and weighing machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve consists o! a plug cock interposed in the emptying pipe.

4. A bag filling and weighing machine as claimed in claim 1 comprising further a valve provided on the feed conduit to said casing and automatic control means whereby said valve will be closed upon the bag being iilled with the deaired weight of material.

5. A bag lling and weighing machine as claimed in claim 1 comprising, further a valve provided on the feed conduit to said casing and an operative connection between said valve and the valve on the emptying pipe whereby both the feed valve and the emptying valve are responsive to the same automatic control means.

8. A bag iilling and weighing machine as claimed in claim 1 comprising further a valve Vprovided on the ieed conduit to said casing, an

operative connection between said valve and the valve on the emptying pipe whereby both the ieed valve and the emptying valve are responsive to the same automatic control means, a single control member within the reach of the operator and an operative connection between said single control member and each of said valves and cut-oi! device whereby they will all be actuated at a time by the operator to be set into the position corresponding to the filling o! a bag.

7. A bag filling and weighing machine as claimedin claim 1 comprising further a valve provided on the conduit to said casing, automatic control means whereby said valve will` be closed upon the bag being filled with the desired weight of material, a single control member within the reach oi' the operator, and an operative connection between said single control member cut-oi! device and valve whereby both the latter will be actuated at a time by the operator to be set into the position required i'or the filling of a bag.

8. A bag filling and weighing machine tor powdered and granular material, oi' the type comprising weighing means adapted to support a bag tor forcing the material into the bag and means i'or automatically stopping the filling upon the bag being iililed with a predetermined weight of material, further comprising bag feeding means including a substantially vertical guide having an elongated and narrow horizontal cross-section and adapted to give passage to a bag, conveying means ending at the top o! said guide and adapted to' support a set oi bags and means whereby the bags are brought one by one, in register with said guide.

9. A bag iilling and weighing machine for powdered or granular material of the type comprising a discharge tube, propelling means for circulating the material through said tube, weighing means adapted to support the bag, a cut-off member adapted to close said tube, and power means operatively connected to said cut-ofi. member and controlled by said weighing means so as to operate the cut-off member to close the tube in response to the Weighing means moving to get the equilibrium position wherein further the cutoi member consists oi the rotatable plug of a plug cock interposed in the discharge tube and having its barrel provided with an opening so disposed that the aperture through the plug is in register therewith when the cock is closed and an external pipe is connected to the barrel over said opening.

10. A bag illling and weighing machine for powdered and granular material, comprising weighing means adapted to support a bag, a

casing provided with a discharge opening, a forcing paddle 'wheel rotatable within the casing to force the material from said casing through said discharge opening, a paddle wheel rotated within this casing about an axis parallel to the axis of the forcing paddle wheel and at less speed, the casing around the forcing wheel having a radius somewhat greater than that of the wheel in the part adjacent and ahead of the discharge opening, whereby a channel is defined between the casing wall and the periphery ot the wheel, said channel opening at the periphery of the slow speed wheel so as to be entered by a part oi the material delivered by said slow speed wheel.

11. A bag filling and weighing machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the slow speed wheel is provided with paddles larger than those of the high speed wheel.

12. In a bag filling and weighing machine for powdered or granular material, oi the type comprising weighing means including a carrier adapted to support the bag, means for forcing the material into the bag, throttling means responsive to the weighing means for automatically stopping the iilling upon the bag being filled with a predetermined weight oi material, a carrier including movable bag holding members, control means responsive to said weighing means and adapted to lock said movable members in their bag holding position and to release them so that the bag will be released automatically upon being illled with a predetermined weight of material, inclined conveying means provided in said carrier and upon which rests the bottom oi the bag, so that the conveying means will be set into operation by the very weight of the bag upon release of the latter which will thus be conveyed out oi' the carrier, locking means being provided for locking the conveying means and automatic' control means for releasing said locking means upon the bag being filled with a predetermined weight of mate- 

